President Lee Jae-myung's job approval rating fell for an eighth consecutive week to 37.4%, according to a poll released on the 7th.
The survey, conducted by pollster Realmeter for the Energy Economy Newspaper from the 31st of last month through the 4th of this month among 2,510 eligible voters aged 18 and over nationwide, put Lee's approval rating at 37.4%, down 1.5 percentage points from the previous week. The reading marked another record low since he took office, extending the decline to an eighth week.
The latest cabinet reshuffle helped consolidate support among his base but failed to stem defections among moderates. Positive assessments among self-identified progressives rose 4 percentage points from the previous week to 57.3%. Among moderates, however, the figure fell 5.5 percentage points to 35.9%. Among conservatives, it rose 1.7 percentage points to 19.2%.
Negative assessments came to 59.5%, up 0.8 percentage point from the previous week. Those who said they did not know accounted for 3.1%.
Realmeter said negative public sentiment toward the government's personnel decisions and policies had spread as controversies converged, including allegations of preferential treatment and dropped prosecutions surrounding ministerial nominees in the second cabinet reshuffle, the reversal on the property tax overhaul, and the fallout from Cho Kuk's remarks on the president's legal risks. "We judge that this trend translated into the decline in approval," the pollster said.
In a separate party support survey the same firm conducted on the 3rd and 4th among 1,001 eligible voters aged 18 and over nationwide, support for the Democratic Party of Korea stood at 41.8%, down 1.3 percentage points from the previous week. The People Power Party also slipped 0.1 percentage point to 37.6%. The gap between the two parties was 4.2 percentage points, keeping them in a statistical tie within the margin of error for a third straight week.
On the Democratic Party, Realmeter said the decline appeared to stem from a convergence of factors, including disputes over the qualifications of nominees in the government's second cabinet reshuffle, friction over a merger or alliance with the Rebuilding Korea Party, and internal turmoil surrounding an ethics inquiry into the party leadership.
Of the People Power Party, the pollster said the party appeared to have moved sideways at levels similar to the previous week, as it continued attacking the government over personnel and policy missteps without reaping sufficient benefit.
Elsewhere, the Rebuilding Korea Party stood at 4.5%, the Reform Party at 2.3% and the Progressive Party at 1.3%. Other parties accounted for 2.1%, while 10.5% said they backed no party.
The presidential job approval survey drew responses from 2,510 eligible voters aged 18 and over nationwide from the 31st of last month through the 4th of this month, for a response rate of 4.2%. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.0 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. The party support survey drew responses from 1,001 eligible voters aged 18 and over nationwide on the 3rd and 4th, for a response rate of 3.8%. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Both surveys were conducted entirely by automated response on mobile phones. Further details are available on the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.
